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Re: best treatment for hair after being in a swimming pool or ocean

There are two articles about hair and swimming in the Hair Care section of Articles. One is about protecting hair from chlorine, and the other talks about neutralizing and removing chlorine from hair without using a harsh shampoo.

I can personally vouch for the effectiveness of club soda. I didn't even wash my hair after (or condition or anything) so I could see how it worked, and I was pleasantly surprised. Would maybe add just a touch of oil on the ends in the future.

Re: best treatment for hair after being in a swimming pool or ocean

Originally Posted by Madame J

There are two articles about hair and swimming in the Hair Care section of Articles. One is about protecting hair from chlorine, and the other talks about neutralizing and removing chlorine from hair without using a harsh shampoo.

I can personally vouch for the effectiveness of club soda. I didn't even wash my hair after (or condition or anything) so I could see how it worked, and I was pleasantly surprised. Would maybe add just a touch of oil on the ends in the future.

I am pleased that it worked for you. How did the club soda affect the condition of your hair?

I suggest in the Article that the oils (coconut and argan) can be used after the club soda to condition and chelate mineral salts (copper and iron) even more.

Re: best treatment for hair after being in a swimming pool or ocean

Before you go swimming soak your hair in clean water, whatever you shower in is fine. Hair will soak up chemicals from the water (or salt) but it can only absorb so much. Once it's saturated it won't absorb more - so saturate first.

Re: best treatment for hair after being in a swimming pool or ocean

Originally Posted by LadyEliza

Before you go swimming soak your hair in clean water, whatever you shower in is fine. Hair will soak up chemicals from the water (or salt) but it can only absorb so much. Once it's saturated it won't absorb more - so saturate first.

And maybe seal with oil?

I'm not convinced that just soaking will make a difference. Osmosis and diffusion have got to come into play.

Re: best treatment for hair after being in a swimming pool or ocean

I'm not convinced that just soaking will make a difference. Osmosis and diffusion have got to come into play.

Oils do not really seal the hair. They are not the best things to have on your hair for pool swimming (contamination of pool water), or the ocean in any significant amounts.

An alternative may be soaking your hair with club soda under a swim cap to help neutralize sea water minerals and chlorine and rinsing the hair with it afterward.

The amount of damage minimizing of coconut oil or coconut and argan oils used as a pretreatment before swimming or club soda, would depend on how wet the hair would get and for how long the hair would be exposed to both sea water and chlorine. Both the club soda and coconut or coconut and argan oils can be used as follow-up treatments. The club soda is a rinse (you can leave it on the hair for a few minutes) and the oils for about an hour or less before rinsing/washing and conditioning.